- THIS STORY CONTINUES FROM PICKING UP THE PIECES
- >After finishing your breakfast, you leave Scootaloo to get settled into the basement.
- >Leaving the bakery, you head toward city hall to see the mayor.
- >Maybe she can help you get your house built.
- >You're not entirely sure if she's the right person to see about it, but you can't think of anyone else who could help.
- >It's been a few hours since you and Scootaloo first walked through town, so everyone is awake at this time of day.
- >Of course this means more stares.
- >You pay them no mind as you trek toward the mayors office.
- >The nippy fall air causes you to shiver, slightly.
- >You'll need to buy a jacket, soon.
- >Eventually, you find the mayors office.
- >Compared to the rest of the town, it's actually quite bland looking.
- >Must be going for a more professional look.
- >When you get closer, you also realize just how tiny it is.
- >As you open the door and duck inside, your head actually touches the ceiling.
- >Seems to be a theme, that.
- >A pony sits behind a desk, in front of you.
- >She must be the secretary.
- >As you approach, she looks up at you with a disinterested look.
- >"Ya hear to see the mayor, toots?"
- >Wow her voice is annoying.
- "Um. Yes, I am."
- >"D'ya got an appointement?"
- "No, I didn't know I'd need one."
- >She gives an irritated sigh.
- >"Please have a seat over there," she says, pointing to the corner of the room.
- >There aren't even any chairs there.
- >"The mayor will see you when she's ready."
- >Wth few other options, you go stand and wait.
- ----
- >No less than three hours later, you finally leave the office.
- >Talking to the mayor only took a few minutes.
- >The rest of the time was spent just waiting around while the secretary shot dirty looks at you.
- >The mayor herself was pleasant enough to talk to, at least.
- >She had a warm personality, even if she did seem a bit distant.
- >More importantly, she was actually able to help.
- >She told you she would notify a contractor as soon as she was able.
- >Thankfully, the estimate was also much lower than you were expecting.
- >The house would cost more than normal since it would be built for your height, but still well below how much you had.
- >It seems that when some of the builders can use magic, it cuts down on the cost of labor.
- >Still, she told you to expect two months at the very least.
- >Hopefully Pinkie lets you stay that long.
- >Maybe you can help her out in the bakery or something.
- >Anything so you seem less useless.
- >Before you can make it too far, you heard someone call for you.
- >"Hey Anon, wait up!"
- >It sounds like Rainbow Dash.
- >After a quick look around, sure enough, she's flying down toward you.
- >Once again, she stops and hovers a few feet in front of you, but this time she looks much more relaxed.
- >"So, how did it ago? Was she happy to see you?"
- >You nod with a small smile.
- "Yeah, she was."
- >"What happened last night? I looked all over but couldn't find you."
- " Sorry. I ended up sleeping with Scootaloo."
- >"WHAT!?"
- ----
- >Wow, that was smooth.
- "No, no! Not like that!"
- >Rainbow Dash is in your face in an instant.
- >"Explain yourself. Now."
- "Alright, alright!" You said, taking a step back.
- "Just give me a bit of space."
- >She crosses her front legs as she stares at you.
- "After dinner, when I was heading home, I saw two stallions following her."
- >Rainbow's expression softens into a concerned look.
- "I chased after them, and found them harassing her at her house. I started to leave, but she asked me to stay with her. So, I did."
- >Rainbow Dash had a troubled expression on her face.
- >"I gotta go, Anon. I should talk to Scootaloo."
- >She starts to fly off toward Scootaloos house, but you stop her.
- "Wait! She's not there!"
- >She zips back over to you.
- >"Then where is she?"
- "The bakery."
- >"Why is she at the bakery?"
- >You can feel your face redden.
- "She's staying there will me until my house is built."
- >She raises an eyebrow at you.
- >"And where will she stay when it's finished?"
- >You're definitely blushing now.
- "I, uh. I offered to let her live with me."
- >Her expression is hard to read as she hovers there, staring at you.
- >Suddenly, she swoops in and hugs you.
- >Pulling away, she's smiling, and has tears in her eyes.
- >"Thank you."
- >With that, she flies off.
- ----
- >As you open the door to the bakery, the bell lets out a merry jingle.
- >Within a second, Pinkie is beside you.
- >You're never going to get used to that.
- >"So?"
- "Hello to you, too. And so what?"
- >"So how did it go, silly?"
- "The mayor told me she would make the proper arrangements. I just have to pay for it."
- >You unconciously swallow nerviously.
- "She said it would probably take at least two months, though."
- >"Well, that's not so bad!"
- "Two months is a long time, though. Are you sure you're ok with us staying so long?"
- >Pinkie gives you a quizzical look.
- >"Of course! You two are my friends. You can stay as long as you need!"
- >She flashes you a wide smile, and hops back off into the kitchen.
- >You're left standing there, awkwardly, in the midde of the room.
- >It's odd to be treated so nicely.
- >Shaking the thought from your mind, you head down the stairs to the basement to check on Scootaloo.
- ----
- >The room looks a little different from when you left.
- >Scootaloo's pictures were now hanging on stone wall of the basement.
- >There are also more blankets on the floor next to the old ones, doubling the width of the makeshift bed.
- >Scootaloo herself is pulling her pillow from her bag when she happens to notice you.
- >"Hey, you're back!"
- "Yep. Settling in well?"
- >"Mm-hm!" She replies with a smile.
- >She carries her pillow over to the bed and plops it down.
- >It's muddy and you can smell it.
- "Uh, Scootaloo? Don't you think you should use something else?"
- >"But that's all I have." Her face falls after saying it.
- >You open Pinkie's cupboard and search for an extra pillow.
- >Finding one, you snag it, and close the door.
- >You knock Scootaloo's filfthy pillow away with your foot, and place the fresh one down.
- "I'm sure Pinkie won't mind you using this until we can get you a new one."
- >She doesn't reply.
- >She still looks pretty sad.
- >Better change the conversation.
- "Aren't the beds kind of close?"
- >Ok, not THAT, you idiot.
- >She immediately blushes and begins to stammer.
- >"O-oh! Well, I can move-"
- "No, no! It's fine. I just... everything is happening at once, you know? It's just so different than what I'm used to."
- >There you go, mentioning prison again.
- >You should stop doing that.
- >"So... what's in the bag?"
- >She points at the bag with your apple brandy.
- "Let me show you."
- ----
- >About an hour later, one of the bottles is gone.
- >You're pretty tipsy, but Scootaloo is trashed.
- >She has a startling low tolerance for alcohol.
- >Must be because of her small size.
- >Still, you wish you had known ahead of time.
- >You wouldn't have let her have so much.
- >She's swaying all over the place, and can't talk without slurring.
- >It's not very late, but she should probably sleep this off.
- >You wobble slightly as you climb to your feet.
- >Maybe you're more drunk than you thought.
- >She lets out a "woo" as you scoop her up in your arms.
- >You lay her as gently as you can down on her side of the makeshift bed.
- >"Thank you, Anonymous." She slurs slightly, with a small sigh.
- >"You're a good friend, you know that?"
- "I try my best." You reply with a smile.
- >"You're my BEST friend. You never adandoned me like my other friends..."
- >She begins to tear up.
- >Oh boy.
- >Better try and stop this before it begins.
- >Sitting down beside her, you roll her onto her back.
- >You gently rub her belly and hum a tune to her.
- >You don't know any lullabies or anything, but you try to hum something relaxing.
- >Her tears stop and she begins to relax, a content smile on her face.
- >Within minutes, she's out like a light.
- >Slowly and carefully, you lean over and give her a kiss on the nose.
- "Sleep well."
- ----
- >You head up the stairs to the bakery as quietly as you can.
- >Pinkie is sweeping the floor as you enter.
- >Must be past closing time.
- >She waves when she sees you.
- >"Heya, Anon!"
- "Hey, Pinkie."
- >"Where's Scootaloo?"
- "She's, uh... she's asleep."
- >She frowns.
- >"So early?"
- "Yeah, she was pretty tired."
- >She narrows her eyes at you.
- >"Have you been drinking, Anon?"
- "I had a little to drink, yes."
- >She stares at you for a few more seconds, before instantly returning to her cheerful nature.
- >"Okie dokie, then! Say, I was just making dinner. Wanna join me?"
- >You consider declining, but you haven't eaten since this morning.
- "Sure, that sounds nice. Just no candy or anything."
- >"Pfffft. Candy for dinner! You're silly, Anon!"
- >Not the reply you expected from Pinkie, of all ponies.
- >You take a seat at the small dinner table.
- >A few moments later, she carries a tray in.
- >On it are two plates of macaroni and cheese, two salad, and two glasses of what look like soda.
- >She places the tray on the table and takes a seat across from you.
- >"Here you go. Dig in!"
- >You nod, and take your portion of the food from the tray.
- >The food is very good.
- >Seems Pinkie's cooking ability extends beyond just baked goods.
- "I just wanted to say thank you, Pinkie. I'm more grateful than you could know."
- ----
- >She gives a quick giggle.
- >"It's just mac and cheese!"
- "No, I mean thank you for everything. Taking me in. Helping Scootaloo. It just means a lot to me. To us."
- >"It's no problem at all, Anon."
- "Well, still. You're a good friend."
- >She flashes you a smile before going back to her meal.
- >Finishing your dinner, you push your plate away and get up from the table.
- >You offer to help with the dishes, but Pinkie insists she can handle them.
- >Defeated, you head downstairs to the basement.
- >Scootaloo is still asleep, sprawled sideways over the blankets.
- >She is NOT going to have fun in the morning.
- >Oh well, nothing to do now.
- >You may as go to sleep, too.
- >As gently as you can, you move her to her own side of the bed.
- >She didn't even stir.
- >Dead to the world, that one.
- >Laying down beside her, you lightly rest your hand her side.
- >She's warm, and unbelievably soft.
- >Her calm, steady breathing is strangely relaxing.
- >Within minutes, you're out, too.
- ----
- >You open your eyes to find pitch darkness.
- >It'd probably be a good idea to put a lamp or something down here.
- >Letting out a yawn, you notice a familiar pressure on your chest.
- >Reaching up to investigate, sure enough, you find Scootaloo, curled up on your chest again.
- >It's pretty warm in here, so it can't be because she was cold.
- >She must just like it, there.
- >That's fine; you don't mind it.
- >You absently begin to stroke her mane.
- >She sighs softly, and gently nuzzles your chest.
- >She's fond of doing that.
- >Once again, you don't mind.
- >A thought begins to form in your head, though.
- >What does she see you as?
- >A friend?
- >Or more?
- >She certainly seems close to you, but at the same time, she's never flirted with you or anything.
- >And more than that, what do you think of her?
- >You clear the thought from your mind.
- >This is something to think about later when you have a clear mind.
- >And also when she's not laying right on you.
- >It'd be easy for that to sway your opinion.
- >Right now, she's here with you, that's good enough.
- >You gently run your fingers through her hair until sleep takes you again.
- >You can't see it, but there's a smile on her face.

